Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-10-17
A CHICAGO BANKER SHOT.
Fired Upon while Leaving Church.

MOTHER FORMERLY A DEPARTMENT cLHlK IN TH1s
cTY-cHAR6ED BIT HER nuIloNAns Huu1AnD
WITH ADULTERY.
A Press dispatch from Chicago last night says:
In throng OF people at the church door OF one OF
the most fashionable congregations in Chicago a
gray haired, millionaire bank president was re-
morselessly shot down to-day by his step-son, 10
ayenge or shield q woman charged with continued
| adultery. The woman was no less person than
Mrs Rawson, wife Of the banker shot and mother
OF the assailant. The banker is stephen w. Raw
son, president Of the Union Trust Company, Of
Chicago. VIM. Lee, aged seventeen, Is the step
son.
Banker Rawson, with f1ve bullets In his body
and apparently In dying condition, was hastily
waiting for the wealthy worshiper4 Young Lee,
with the empty, Stllsmokng revolver In his hand,
was as hurrfedly thrown into a different convey
ance-the blue wagon OF the police patrol. Rawson
other ofienses. He, on the other hand, allowed
that She, although prominent In society. and q
beautiful woman in appearances was really dis
tureSS, who coveted only his money. For year
or more the two have been lighting each other in
e and ese Of adS
terry.
The wounds are thought to be fatal The mur-
prised OF the murder, Mrs Rawson said TO NJ
porter:
Il am GLAD OF IL. He deserved IT." she stopped
just long enough to catch her breath.
"What was II done fort"
because Rawson has made me out on the
boy" she cried, raising her arm with q dramatic
gesture; "he did no more than any boy would 90.
He Is the son OF his mother"
heavily carpeted floor. 81 intended to do it my
self, she exclaimed.
been married three times She was divorced once,
and as department clerk In the Government serv-
Ice, at Washington, is understood TO have been
dents. Rawson declared that his wife had
made false representations to him TO get him
70 marry her when she represented that She was
ably on, and the mother OF two children. He
further. In divorce proceedings testified that his
TO Jno. slaymaker, who, at the time the bill was
nled, was living in Arkadelphia, Ark, and that
was illegal consequently, the marriage with the
defendant should be declared void. On Aug s. 1886,
he refused to place any more money to her
credit at the bank, and September % she was re-
fused admittance 10 his house and detectives left
on guard TO prevent her gaining entrance. While
the case was pending porter Of st. Louis sleeper
testified that Mrs. RawSOn had occupied berth
with a strange man on his sleeper This story
was partially corr oborated BY other pOrters and
pbatically denied by Mrs. RawsOD, and later the
colored porter was brought up before Justice Lyon
on the charge OF perjury, when he acknowledged
the untruthfulneSs OF his former statements.
Since then every point especially in the matter OF
alimOny has been contested with increased bitter
ness, the elimination being RawsOn's additional
charges and to-day's horrible tragedy.
THE woMAN's HIsroRY-FORMKRLY IN THE TREASURY
DEPARTMENT.
A Chicago special to the Philadelphia Press
says: America Lucretia Smith was the maiden
name OF Mrs. Rawson. She was born In the city
OF New orleans about thirty-six years ago. When
she was only fifteen years OF age she was married
in New orleans to John Slaymaker by whom she
had one son, Ralph William Slaymaker. The boys
father is still In Arkadelph1a, Ark, his mother
having been divorced from him not long after they
were married Mrs. Slaymaker was married again
in August, 1875, to Chas. @. Lee, in a small town
in Mississippi where she lived about three years.
Lee, like her first husband, was Incorporate, and
she procured a divorce from him. She met
RawsOn about four years ago and from him she
purchased house at that time. Their business
acquaintance rpened and after nearly three years
OF courtship they were married here March l, 1885
While she was living In Washington Mrs. Lee OBJ
tanned q position IN the Treasury through the
efforts OF Congressman Ellis, OF Louisiana. She
lived In Washington a couple OF years and then
went TO New York, where she rented an elegant
establishment and lived In apparent affiuence.
Rawson jealousy refers to these matters In his
first bill FOR divorce.
MIS- Rawson stated that her fortune came to her
from her mother, who died in Louisville aboutf We
raised the point Of law, having failed In every
other way, that Mrs. RawsOn was not his wife;
that her marriage TO Slaymaker was never legally
dissolved, as the divorce was, under the laws OF
Louisiana, null aud void. This Is what infurfated
young Slaymaker and eliminated in the shocking
tragedy In front OF the Presbyterian church to.
day.